Babylon 5

We are at Centauri Prime, in the Emperor's Royal Court. The Emperor is there with his four wives, identical siblings raised together from birth, sharing an unbreakable telepath bond. His prime minister and trusted friend is also there. The Emperor wants to know if everything is prepared for his journey to Babylon 5. He will make the trip alone with two of his four wives. As the telepath bond they possess cannot be broken even by distance, the two remaining at home will inform the Emperor of what goes on in his court, while the other two with him will inform the court of the events on Babylon 5. The prime minister protests his not participating in the voyage, as the Emperor is old and his health is being put in jeopardy by such a venture. The Emperor thanks him for his loyal service during the previous years, and grants him a cordial farewell.


In Sheridan's office, G'Kar protests intensely against the Centauri Emperor's impending visit, reminding the captain of the atrocities his family has committed against the Narn, and of the gruesome occupation of the Narn homeworld by the Centauri Republic. The captain retorts that although his family and his Empire has indeed committed these crimes against the Narn, this particular Emperor himself has not, and has spent his time on the throne trying to atone for previous crimes, by giving back conquered territory to the Narn, and making all kinds of allowances and beneficial arrangements for them. According to Sheridan this visit is an opportunity for both races to overcome their past and move forward, initiating dialogue rather than animating old grudges. G'Kar however is relentless, and storms out of the office implying that he is going to act independently regarding the matter.


Later on, at the docking bay, a mysterious man arrives. The security guard checking the passengers' credentials observes it's the third time this month and asks if the man is looking for something in particular. The man looks intently at Garibaldi, and answers he's just found it. In Londo's quarters, Lord Refa provides him with a speech he is required to give at the Emperor's reception. The speech contains inflammatory remarks about the current situation of the Empire, with the intention of directing discontent towards the Emperor, as well as the increasing the public's desire for an immediate change of regime. Londo hesitates but finally agrees to give the speech. Lord Refa points out that it doesn't matter if he will lose the favor of the Emperor, since the Emperor is ill and is not expected to live much longer. Certain unpleasant events have been arranged back home, to add credit to the speech's negative predictions. The conspirators, anticipating the Emperor's death, are placing themselves in position to assume power as soon as he is dead.


The Emperor's ship arrives, and he is welcomed by Sheridan, Ivanova, Franklin and Garibaldi. He asks Franklin if he has ever seen a Vorlon outside its encounter suit, and wishes he may be able to see one before he passes away. G'Kar is in his quarters, having a classified conversation in Stellar Com. He is planning to assassinate the Emperor, during the time when the reception in his honor will be held. The Emperor has a frank discussion with Sheridan, asking him whether serving in the army and commanding the station was his choice or someone else imposed it upon him. Sheridan replies he wanted to make a difference in the world, and the Emperor smiles and tells him he has never had that chance himself. His role was decided for him even before he was born, and he never tried to break out of it during his lifetime.


Centauri Emperor to John Sheridan: I was born into a role that had been prepared for me. I did everything I was asked to do, because it never occurred to me to choose otherwise. And now, at the end of my life, I wonder what might have been.

John Sheridan : That's why my father taught me to live each second as though it were the last moment of my life. He said, if you love, love without reservation, if you fight, fight without fear. He called it the way of the warrior.

Centauri Emperor: No regrets, then.
John Sheridan: A few. But just a few. You?

Centauri Emperor: Enough to fill a lifetime. So much has been lost. So much forgotten. So much pain, so much blood. And for what? I wonder... The past tempts us, the present confuses us, the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast, terrible in-between. But there is still time to seize that one last, fragile moment. To choose something better. To make a difference, as you say. And I intend to do just that.


With this intention of changing the future the conversation comes to an end.


G'Kar leaves an electronic will, as he prepares for the assassination attempt. Garibaldi silently notices the odd man who is following him around the station. Finally, the reception takes place. As everyone is waiting for the Emperor to arrive and give his speech, G'Kar walks in the room. Meanwhile, Garibaldi and two of his security team trap the mysterious man and, since he isn't answering any questions, Garibaldi arrests him and puts him in lockup. Back at the reception, Delenn notices G'Kar trying to slip the knife he is carrying out of his sleeve. The Emperor collapses a little before he arrives into the room however, depriving him of the opportunity to act. He is transferred to Medlab, where he asks Franklin to convey his final message for him.


In Londo's quarters, he and Lord Refa are discussing the Emperor's collapse, and how convenient a new event would be, that would ensure power for them against their antagonists for the throne. Londo thinks of Morden, and what he had said to him: "Pick any target". He thinks of an unarmed Narn colony outside the Centauri Republic border, in Quadrant 14. He tells Lord Refa to send just some of his available ships there, and that he will take care of the rest. When Refa leaves Vir is furious, openly opposing Londo for the first time, and telling him he is making a huge mistake, one that he won't be able to recall once he has committed it. "I'll go and bring him back, and then someday I'm going to remind you of this conversation, and maybe then you'll understand", Vir says as he goes off to find Morden.


As G'Kar rants in his quarters about how he was unable to kill the Emperor because he fell ill himself, Franklin visits him to convey the Emperor's message. The reason for his visit to the station was that he wanted to find himself in the same room with a Narn representative, in neutral territory, and apologize for all the harm Centauri Prime has caused their people. "He came all the way out here, risked his health and endangered his life so that he could stand beside a Narn in neutral territory and apologize. For all the things the Centauri have done to your people, for all the things his family did. He said: "We were wrong. The hatred between our people can never end until someone is willing to say I'm sorry…and try to find a way to make things right again, to atone for our actions. ". He said it was the only choice he ever made in his life, and now that seems to have been taken away from him". G'Kar is astonished and shocked by the revelation.


Londo is asleep in his quarters, having a nightmare about what the future has in store for him. He sees a great fiery hand reaching through the galaxy, then himself sitting on the throne of the Centauri Republic, old and decrepit, and an old G'Kar strangling him to death. Afterwards, it is himself outside the palace, watching a procession of large, spider-like black vessels fly over his homeworld. He wakes up agitated and checks the time. The attack on Quadrant 14 has already begun.


On the Narn colony in Quadrant 14, the spider-like ships attack. The small Narn fleet does its best to draw them away from the colony and defend it as best they can, but their efforts are in vain. The whole fleet is destroyed, the colony is burned to the ground and the Narns on it are defenseless. A few minutes later on Babylon 5, Londo wanders aimlessly in the Zocalo, where G'Kar finds him. Feeling extremely pleased by the Emperor's apology, he offers to buy Londo a drink. As they make a toast together, G'Kar tells him he feels optimistic for a positive change in the relations between them, and for the good in the natures of both their peoples having a chance to prevail. Londo is sullen, saying nothing.


On Quadrant 14, the Centauri ships arrive to claim the already destroyed territory. A Narn fleet arrives at the same moment, verifying the attack. They see the Centauri ships there and send word home about who is responsible for the attack. Then they proceed to engage the enemy in combat. It is the first act of war for a long time, between these two races. On Centauri Prime the prime minister is assassinated, to make room for the new order of things. Garibaldi calls for the new prisoner to be sent to him for interrogation. When the two are alone in Garibaldi's office, the prisoner reveals the purpose of his actions. He has been sent there by an old friend, to transfer a classified message for Garibaldi's ears alone, no matter the cost. The reason for his refusing to answer questions earlier was secrecy. He hands the crystal containing the message to Garibaldi and as soon as the screen lights up, the face of Jeffrey Sinclair appears. He confirms the rumors circulating around the galaxy, of an unknown, terrible threat coming this way. He also tells Garibaldi about the real reason of his being sent to Minbar: he is the leader of an elite corps of warriors, the Rangers, comprising of both humans and Minbari, their purpose being to observe, maintain peace throughout the galaxy and prepare to offer the best assistance possible, in the dark times ahead. For the moment their existence is to be kept a secret, known only to Garibaldi and someone else on the station. Garibaldi thanks the Ranger for the message and lets him go.


G'Kar learns about the Centauri attack on Quadrant 14. Infuriated, betrayed and completely out of himself, he runs out of his room, overcoming several security guards in his immense rage, with the intention of attacking Londo. He is met by a squad of security guards and Sheridan, who sympathizes with his situation and tries to reason with him. "You're gonna need all the help you can get. Set one foot in Ambassador Molari's quarters and you'll either be dead or gone. Either way, you won't help your people". "They'll kill everyone, don't you understand? They've done it before, they'll kill everyone"! "Then you're gonna have to decide what's more important to you, G'Kar! Revenge or saving the lives of your people"! Devastated and broken as he is, G'Kar sees the reasoning. He collapses on the floor, weeping for the fate of his people. Sheridan and the security squad leave him alone.


In Medlab, the Emperor wishes he could see a Vorlon before he dies. At the exact moment when he expresses that wish, Ambassador Kosh appears by his bedside. "How will this end?" the Emperor asks. "In fire", replies the Vorlon. In Sheridan's office, Garibaldi shares with him and Ivanova the information he got from Sinclair. He does not divulge the source of this information however, as he has given his word to his old friend. The information gives Sheridan an idea to help the Narn with their situation. The Emperor prepares to die, while Refa and Londo have gone to Medlab to give him the news about the recapturing of Quadrant 14. He whispers his last words to Londo and then passes away. When Refa asks what it was that he said, Londo replies "He said that we are both damned". "It's a small enough price to pay for immortality", Refa says and leaves.


Sheridan asks G'Kar to attend the council meeting he has called to help the Narn. During the meeting Sheridan plays on his hunch that the Centauri had "outside help" in conquering the colony, and threatens to impose Earth observers there, to ensure that the Narn population is being properly treated. Attacking the observers will mean war with Earth. Under the threat of the observers finding out who really won the victory, Londo accepts to return all the Narn population back to their home planet. G'Kar announces the Narns' decision to officially declare war on the Centauri Republic.


Londo has a talk with Refa in his quarters. He is informed that the power balance back home has been altered in their favour, as they have "removed" the prime minister and made sure that other rival families have been neutralized as well. Vir asks Londo whether he aspires to be Emperor. Londo refuses, as it is much safer to work on the background where one isn't seen and can act more freely.


Garibaldi sees the Ranger off, thanking him for his valuable information. He asks if there is anyone else on the station who knows about him. "Just one other", the Ranger replies. In her quarters, Delenn places her own crystal in the transmission device, and Sinclair's face appears on her screen.